STORAGE YARN FEEDER WITH BRAKING ORGAN AND INTERCHANGEABLE ELEMENTS

Abstract

A storage yarn feeder includes a body having a portion or drum onto which winds a yarn forming at least one coil, the yarn coming from a reel, being provided with a braking organ cooperating with the drum to brake the yarn leaving the drum, the braking organ including braking means capable of cooperating with the yarn when the yarn detaches from the drum as it leaves the feeder and heads towards a textile machine. The drum comprises a first and a second portion, the latter being capable of supporting the yarn and being separable from the first portion to be capable of being replaced, the first portion being connected to the body of the feeder.

Claims

1. A storage yarn feeder comprising a body having a portion or drum onto which winds a yarn forming at least one coil, said yarn coming from a reel, a braking organ cooperating with said drum to brake the yarn leaving said drum, said braking organ comprising braking means for cooperating with the yarn when the yarn detaches from the drum as the yarn leaves the feeder and heads towards a textile machine, wherein the drum comprises a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being alternatively capable of supporting a first body of the braking organ or of acting as part of the braking organ, said first body connected to the second portion of the drum and to a second body movable in relation to the first body and cooperating therewith to brake the yarn interposed between said first body (9) and second body, and the first body being in the form of a cup, fitted onto a terminal end of the second portion of the drum and being provided with mechanical or magnetic means of securing the first body to the terminal end, the second portion being separable from the first portion to be capable of being replaced, the first portion being connected to the body of the feeder.

2. (canceled)

3. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein the second body is at least partly conical.

4. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein removable securing means are provided, capable of securing the second portion to the first portion of said drum and of enabling the separation of said portions.

5. The feeder according to claim 4, wherein said securing means are mechanical means.

6. The feeder according to claim 5, wherein these mechanical means are at least one screw or elements that connect by interference between said portions.

7. The feeder according to claim 4, wherein said securing means are magnetic means.

8. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein the braking organ is of a magnetic type.

9. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein the braking organ comprises a braking element capable of cooperating directly with the second portion of the drum in order to brake the yarn located between said second portion and said braking element.

10. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein the braking organ comprises a first truncated cone having an internal cavity capable of accommodating the terminal end of the drum.

11. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein the first body has an internal cavity capable of accommodating the terminal end of the second portion of the drum.

12. The feeder according to claim 13, wherein, a first magnetic ring is provided as the magnetic means capable of being fixed to the cupped first body and of cooperating magnetically with the terminal end of the second portion of the drum.

13. The feeder according to claim 14, wherein the terminal end of the drum is provided with a second magnetic ring of appropriate polarity to cooperate with the first magnetic ring to secure the cupped first body to the terminal end of the second portion of the drum.

14. The feeder according to claim 13, wherein the cupped first body has protuberances around and inside the cavity capable of interfering with the terminal end of the second portion of the drum to facilitate the connection of the cupped first body to the drum.

15. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein the second body is at least partly conical and defines a cavity therein.

Description

[0027] For a better understanding of this invention, the following drawings are attached purely by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view slightly from below of a feeder according to the invention;

[0029] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view from below of a part of the feeder shown in FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 3 is a cross-section along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a terminal part of the feeder shown in FIG. 1; and

[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 4, but from a different angle.

[0033] With reference to the above-mentioned Figures, a storage yarn feeder is shown generally by 1 and comprises a body 2 bearing a drum 3 onto which is wound a yarn 4. The latter unwinds from a reel and is fed to a textile machine, neither of which is shown.

[0034] The drum 3 can be of the fixed type or rotating type. In the example shown in the Figures it is rotated about a longitudinal axis W by an electric motor 6 located inside the body 2. A feeder of this type is well known and will not be further described except for those parts necessary for an understanding of the present invention.

[0035] At one terminal end 7 of the drum 3 (from which the yarn detaches on its path towards the textile machine) a braking organ 8 is positioned which, in the example shown in the Figures, is of a magnetic-operation type. This braking organ 8, in the embodiment in question, comprises a first truncated cone or cupped body 9 having an internal cavity 10 capable of accommodating the terminal end 7 of the drum 3.

[0036] The body 9 is separated from the drum 3 but is connected to said end 7 in any known way. For example, a magnetic ring 13 is provided capable of being fixed to the cupped body 9 and of cooperating magnetically with the above-mentioned end 7, the latter also possibly being provided with a magnetic ring of the appropriate polarity to cooperate with the ring 13 in order to secure the cupped body 9 to the drum 3.

[0037] Obviously, the body 9 can be mechanically fixed (for example by screws, interlocking, snap fit or other means) to the drum 3. This body has protuberances 15 around and inside the cavity 10 capable of interfering with the end part 7 to facilitate the connection of said body to said drum 3.

[0038] Alternatively, the body 9 can form a part of the drum or define the end 7 thereof.

[0039] The braking organ 8 comprises a second body 20 at least partly conical capable of cooperating, in a known way (for example magnetically), with the first body 9 (both as an independent part of the drum and as a portion thereof) in order to tighten between them the yarn 4 appropriately inserted between said bodies 9 and 20 when starting to use the feeder. The second body 20 is movable in relation to the first 9 so as to be able to generate a braking force on the yarn that is regulated as required.

[0040] This braking organ, of magnetic, mechanical or other type is of a known type and will not be further described.

[0041] The drum 3 comprises two portions, 3A and 3B. The first portion 3A is connected to the body 2 by means of a system of bearings that enable it to rotate freely and tilt in order to create a motion to separate the coils deposited on the drum 3B and, in the embodiment shown in the Figures, is indirectly driven by the motor 6 and rotated by the latter about the axis W. This is performed in a known way.

[0042] Inside a first portion 3A of the drum 3 there is also a hollow shaft 30 having a free end 31, to which the screw 43 is fixed, this hollow shaft of the motor is appropriately threaded in order to secure the above-mentioned elements.

[0043] The second portion 3B of the drum 3, capable of directly supporting the yarn 4, comprises a body 34 having the end 7 of the drum and to which is directly fixed the cupped body 9. This second portion 3B comprises a surface 35 from the edge of which extend uprights 36 connected at the other end to a ring 37 capable of fitting onto the first part 3A of the drum. These uprights and ring, together with the surface 35, define a cupped structure capable of fitting onto said first part 3A (which is thus contained in a cavity 38 of the second part 3B of the drum).

[0044] From the surface 35, within the cavity 38 projects a hollow cylindrical body 40, with a through hole, capable of partially accommodating the tubular element 30 of the first part 3A (from its end 31) of the drum 3 and of guiding towards said end 31A a screw 43 (associated with a lock washer 44) which, introduced into the body 40 from one of its ends 40A, fixes into the element 30 and (removably) secures the second part 3B of the drum to the first part 3A. For example, this securing is achieved by the cooperation of the head 43A of the screw 43 with an internal step 47 of the cylindrical body 40.

[0045] In this way, the portions of the feeder 1 that are in contact with the yarn can be easily replaced when worn. In fact, during the use of the feeder, the yarn that winds onto the part 3B of the drum (forming coils on the uprights 36) and that runs between the bodies 9 and 20 of the braking organ 8 can frictionwear the surfaces with which it comes into contact. Thanks to the invention, not only can the braking organ 8 be easily separated from the body 2 of the feeder 1 (thus enabling one or both of its portions or bodies 9 and 20 to be replaced) by detaching part 9 from the drum 3 by overcoming the reciprocal magnetic attraction but so too can part 20 be separated from said part 9. Also part 3B of the drum 3 in contact with the yarn can be replaced with a similar part capable of accommodating the coils of yarn 4. To do this, without even detaching the feeder from the machine (or separating it only momentarily), the screw 43 is removed from the element 30 of the first part 3A of the drum. The second part 3B can thus be separated from the first 3A and replaced with an unworn part.

[0046] By retightening the screw 43 in the element 30, the drum is reassembled and the feeder 1 is ready for use.

[0047] All this is achieved using simple and rapid methods.

[0048] Thanks to the invention, therefore, a storage yarn feeder with a braking organ can be easily overhauled or have parts subject to wear replaced directly at the place of use in a matter of a few seconds, avoiding lengthy stoppages of the textile machine to which it is connected, long waiting times for the overhauled feeder and high costs.

[0049] One embodiment of the invention has been described. Others are possible, however: for example parts 3A, 3B of the drum can be connected in a removable manner also by securing means other than screw 43, for example magnetically or by mechanical interference. Or, the braking magnetic organ 8 can also be of a type other than the magnetic type described and, as stated, part 3B can itself serve as a component of the braking organ.

[0050] These solutions are also to be deemed to fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.